Last 8 bits meaning bits 0-7 of the int or bits 8-15 of the int? either is kind of useless as what I think one would want is to transfer the 8 most significant bits on the 10 bit A/D value (bits 2 to 9 of the returned int) into bits 0 to 7 of PORTD? I don't think the standard C casting rules will do that?

I don't think it matters for the particular application it's being used for, which is essentially just showing random bars of colour on the screen, which change frequently. It gives a random-ish output, which is all they want, so the fact that some bits are being lost isn't a problem.

After looking at the posted videos I can see what you mean, just cause changes and in that case it probably accomblish the desired effect. Still I think it may be a bad example and not a good programming example. C casting rules are hard enough to understand and master to have examples like this to try and learn from.

thanks for your help. it's just, that the background of the photo gets a bit blurry.

i'm not that familiar with breadboards yet. little scale seems to connect the left terminal from the poti to the bus strip. but i can't make out any connection between this bus strip and the arduino ground pin(s).

can anybody help me out? (too bad i don't have a bird's eye view on this one...)